Heavy truck mechanics typically learn their craft on the job, although formal postsecondary certification programs are becoming more pervasive in the industry. People interested in this line of work should take classes pertaining to automotive repair and electrical systems while in high school. Salaries for heavy truck mechanics vary according to a number of factors.

National Average, Diesel Specialists

Many heavy truck mechanics specialize in the repair of diesel engines such as freight trucks and construction equipment that runs on diesel. May 2011 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that the average salary of bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in the United States was $42,910 per year. More of these mechanics work in general freight trucking than in any other industry, averaging $39,040 per year. Those employed by motor vehicle wholesalers reported an average salary of $42,740 per year, while those employed by local governments reported an average annual income of $49,030.

Geographic Pay Scale for Diesel Mechanics

As of 2011, the highest-paying metropolitan area for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists was Napa, California, where the mean pay was $66,320 per year. The highest-paying nonmetropolitan area was located in southwest Alaska, where the average annual pay was $60,500. In the state-by-state pay comparison published by the BLS, Alaska ranked first with an average salary of $57,490, followed by Hawaii at $55,860 and Wyoming at $54,400. At $34,900, Arkansas offered the lowest average pay in the nation.

National Averages, Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics

Mobile equipment mechanics specialize in the repair of trucks and vehicles used in the construction industry, such as dump trucks, cement mixers and bulldozers. According to the BLS, the average salary for these heavy truck mechanics as of 2011 was $46,770 per year. The average hourly wage they earned was $22.48. About one-quarter of these workers are employed by machinery and equipment wholesalers and average $46,010 per year. Those employed directly by local governments average $50,450 per year, and those employed by the federal government average $52,120.

Geographic Pay Scale for Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics

The highest-paying metropolitan area for this occupation as of 2011 was Fairbanks, Alaska, with an average salary of $70,980 per year. Napa, California was a close second, with a reported average salary of $69,540. The highest-paying state for this occupation was Alaska, at $65,190 per year, followed by Hawaii at $61,450 and Nevada at $59,030. As with diesel mechanics, the lowest-paying state was Arkansas, with an average salary of $36,840.